Pipistrel: Generosity Amid Chaos

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, GFC, Hybrid Aircraft, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

Taja Boscarol, co-founder and Public Relations Manager of Pipistrel hopes, “You are healthy in these challenging times,” and makes a great invitation to the world’s involuntarily shut-in pilots.

Pipistrel has decided to provide an open access to all online training materials during the current period of world-wide enforced isolation as a testament and dedication to safety through continuous training and learning. Pipistrel Academy Computer-Based Training Courses are now available free-of-charge to anybody, for three months.

“We hope this will motivate non-flying pilots as well as student pilots and flight instructors to stay connected to their passion and learn more every day.

“Anybody, whether student pilot, pilot, flight instructor or aviation enthusiast, flying clubs, flight schools can apply and join the online course free-of-charge for a period of 3 months, from April 2020 until end of June 2020. This unique offer is available worldwide to all, including to non-pilots who are interested in aviation.

For followers of electric aircraft development, knowing Pipistrel as a long-time proponent of green aviation makes this offer all the better. Pipistrel’s first entry into the electric aircraft market came with the Taurus Electro G2, a side-by-side self-launchng two-seater that offered comfort, great handling, and soaring capabilities. Tine Tomazic, R&D Manager,with scant time to prepare an entry for 2011’s NASA Green Flight Challenge Sponsored by Google, made the inspired choice to use two G2 fuselages separated by a broad center section which housed a 200-killowatt motor – at that time the largest electric motor to power an aircraft.

With four seats, the craft gained an advantage over the competition in the scoring for passenger miles per gallon equivalent energy use – a remarkable 403.2 PPMGe.

Pipistrel won several “economy runs” with its high-wing Sinus and Virus aircraft, from which they derived a a light, highly efficient trainer, the Alpha. That lightness and efficiency led to creation of an electric version, the Alpha Electro. At a reported $3.00 per hour charging cost and with reasonable maintenance costs, this airplane would allow low rates for training and improved profitability for flight schools.

A COVID-19 Hiatus

Alluring as the prospect of low-budget, clean flying is, we’re all going to have to be patient for what might be an extended time. Right now, we probably don’t want to be squeezed into a tight space with another (probably untested) human being even if it is to enjoy quiet flight.

Pipistrel to the Rescue

During the current almost worldwide “lock down” period, the free-of-charge online course will help to refresh and revise the theoretical knowledge required to fly and learn the specifics about modern Pipistrel aircraft series, including the Alpha Electro, the only electric trainer in serial production in the world. The online course gives detailed information and knowledge of different Pipistrel aircraft.

Pipistrel is offering completely free of charge the specially designed and developed Online Training course for;

  • the Alpha Trainer UL/LSA/BCAR
  • the Virus SW UL/LSA
  • the Virus SW121
  •  the Alpha Electro.

Normally the online course fee is 147.30€ ($160.00) for 14-days or €247.30 ($268.56) for Permanent subscription. Courses can be accessed from anywhere in the world, with your laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

Online courses available from today onward, completely free of charge, include:

  • Pipistrel ALPHA Electro, the only certified electric training aircraft in serial production anywhere in the world
  • Pipistrel ALPHA Trainer aircraft in UL/LSA/BCAR configurations
  • Pipistrel Virus SW and SWiS in UL/LSA configurations
  • Pipistrel Virus SW 121 model, EASA certified

To register and begin learning about Pipistrel aircraft and flying in general, please register for your online course at https://www.pipistrel-online.com/

Click “Create new account”, follow the registration instructions and select the online course you are interested in by using the Enrollment key: FlyPipistrel

Best Offer Yet

Taja concludes, “And as the best information is always at the end….

“Here it is:
“Anyone who successfully finishes an on-line training course will receive a voucher for a free demo flight in one of our aircraft at your closest Pipistrel distributor’s location all over the World, valid until the end of September 2020.

“We hope that this Pipistrel’s contribution to the global pilot community will help the pilots to keep safe, remain knowledgeable and invest their time in lockdown during the Covid-19 crisis in training, so that they can enjoy flying even more when the current restrictions are eased.”

During the lockdown, you can learn some new skills and be the first on your block or in your EAA chapter to hitch a ride in an electric airplane.  Use the time well.

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